Thomas Bell

Awarded the compensation for Aberdeen plantation in British Guiana, resident in British Guiana in 1832 and in 1837 but apparently returned subsequently to Britain and died there c. 1839.

1. Will of Thomas Bell Doctor of Medicine Proprietor of Property in Demerara [residing at No. 2 Montpelier Grove] of Cheltenham Gloucester [and now sojourning at Newtownforbes] (made 17/09/1839) proved 09/01/1840. Under the will he left £6000 to his brother James Bell of Newtownforbes, of which the interest on £1000 was secured to James's wife Mary. The £6000 was to be paid out from the six first instalments payable of £1000 each for Plantation Aberdeen, the first of which was payable on 20/04/1840. He left £100 to R.M. Jones of Demerara in recognition of his fine exertions in the sale of Plantation Aberdeen, and £2000 to his son William Bell. The rest of his property was left in trust to secure an annuity of £300 p.a. to his wife Rebecca Matilda Bell, and £300 p.a. to her to support their five children, with the residual estate to be divided among the five children [who from the 1841 census were aged 1 to 14].

2. Rebecca Matilda Bell died at Kensington 16/01/1869 aged 70. Rev. William Bell, Rebecca Matilda and Thomas Bell's eldest son, became headmaster of Carlisle High School in 1855.

T71/887 British Guiana claim no. 2291 (Aberdeen).

T71/433 p. 2031: 171 enslaved people registered by Thos Bell MD 1832; letter from Thomas Bell Aberdeen Plantation Essequibo dated 02/08/1837 to Governor-General seeking consent to name the settlement in front of the estate Williamstown; House of Commons papers 1838 Vol. 49, Slavery in the British Colonies, p. 191.

1. PROB 11/1921/41.

2. 'Jan. 16, [1869] at 28, Palace-gardens, Villas, Kensington, after a few days' illness, Rebecca Matilda, relict of Thomas Bell, Esq., M.D., late of Demerara, and of Cheltenham. [Age 70], Gloucester Journal 23/01/1869', from Persons affiliated w/Guyana in British Newspapers', http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyggbs/Transcriptions/LisaB/DeathsTrans2015.pdf [accessed 04/04/2016]; Ancestry.com, Oxford University Alumni 1500-1886.